"two year old left with fractured elbow till next..."

Dear Anonymous – thank you for taking the time and trouble to post details of your experience in A&E. I am sorry that your son received poor treatment and had to unnecessarily endure a painful realignment procedure and that his injury and treatment was not fully explained to you, as it certainly should have been. X-rays are always reviewed by an experienced radiographer, either while the patient is present or after treatment has been delivered. This action is to ensure that any very subtle fractures can be spotted and the patient recalled if necessary. I cannot comment on the extent of your son’s fracture or break, but I regret if the actions taken to treat him were not consistent with his injury. Paediatric care is a particular specialism, which is why your son was referred to the Bristol Children’s Hospital (BCH) and why they run a specific A&E service. Our website does recommend that children should attend the Bristol Children’s Hospital A&E service, but I understand in an emergency situation any portent’s first instinct is to seek care for their child from the nearest or most accessible service. I was pleased to learn that your son was seen and appropriately treated after you took him directly to the BCH A&E service, but can understand why your attendance would not have been linked with the separate referral from Southmead A&E as this would be progressed independently. Never-the-less, I am sorry that you received a call from (BCH) and for any distress caused, which would have been made out of concern for your son’s wellbeing. I hope that you son is making a good recovery from his accident. Kind Regards – Steve Sykes Advice and Complaints Team